BARD'S BIRTHDAY: SHAKESPEARE CELEBRATIONS SPECIAL BLOG

Welcome to the live coverage of this year’s Shakespeare Celebrations.

1PM: Now signing off from the live blog - but keep an eye on our website for further reports, photos and feedback from the day, plus a report from Herald deputy editor Chris Smith who is attending the Birthday Lunch.

And don't miss our five-page special with a host of new photos and interviews in next week's Herald.

12.40PM: The parades are now over but there is plenty more to see and do across the town centre including many RSC-organised activities and events, street theatre and entertainment, vintage singers, street food, craft demonstrations, market stalls, face painting in Bell Court and Saturday night entertainment

Meanwhile, guests are arriving at The Crowne Plaza for the traditional Birthday Lunch compered by Quentin Willson. Main speaker is Pragnell Prize winner actress Jane Lapotaire. Respected journalist Michael Billington will be giving the speech and toast to Shakespeare’s immortal memory at the lunch. Full details about the event here

12.10PM: The UK's first ever Living Statues competition is being hosted in Stratford as an extra fun feature to this year's celebrations.

They have been performing at the Bancroft Gardens since Friday evening and the winners will be announced tomorrow, Sunday, at 4pm on Waterside.

12PM: New for this year, the literary pageant follows the main parade and some of the colourful entries include Peter Pan as presented by Escape Arts; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Footsteps Nursery; Winnie The Pooh by Springfield Mind; Horrible Histories by The Mezzo Dance Troupe; Noah's Ark by The Methodist Church, Romeo and Juliet by the RSC, Where's Wally by Stratford Girls Grammar School and Rainbow's End: A Unicorn Adventure by Warwickshire Pride. The Mayor and the Chairman of the District Council judged all these entries independently and the winner - The Rubbish Friends as the Wombles - receives £500 courtesy of sponsors Bell Court.

11.30AM: As they pass Mr Shakespeare gives each of the 17 walking floats a quill, symbolising the passing of his literary genius to all great authors thereafter.

11.10AM: The Lord Lieutenant unfurls the union flag followed by the unfurling of all the other flags adorning Bridge Street. The Civic Parade, VIPs and invited guests continue through the town to Holy Trinity Church to lay flowers at Shakespeare’s grave.

A magnificent giant cake appears - crafted by Escape Art’s volunteers and community representatives – followed by a rendition of Happy Birthday. It signals the start of the literary parade. 'Mr Shakespeare' pops out of the cake, the Town Criers from Bidford, Henley, Shipston and Warwick ring their bells as he mounts the dais and calls for ‘three cheers to William Shakespeare.'

11AM: The band sounds a drum roll which signals the unfurling of the Big Birthday Banner, by Sophie Evans-Lee one of the winners of this year’s Pride of Stratford Young Achiever of the Year Award. Sophie is accompanied by Mr Anthony Bird. The Banner was made possible from a development contribution by the Bird Group.

10.50AM: Stratford MP Nadhim Zahawi and distinguished representatives from the Court of St James join the parade along with RSC artistic director, Greg Doran and actress - and Pragnell Prize recipient - Jane Lapotaire. She will be receiving her award at this afternoon's Birthday Luncheon at the Crown Plaza. Representatives from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeare’s England, Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust and Stratforward are also there.

10.40AM: On what is actually the Queen’s 92 birthday, the central column is led by the Queen’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire, Mr Timothy Cox. Accompanying the Lord Lieutenant is the Bishop of Coventry and the High Steward and High Sheriff.

10.35PM: Representatives from Stratford-in-Bloom, volunteers from Christmas Lights committee, members of the Caledonian and Cambrian Societies and Stratfords of the World - UK contingent - are all taking part.

Shakespuss joins in for the first time, as does Maria’s Children who’ve come all the way from Russia. Under the Scholars Banner we have Stratford Girls Grammar School, Stratford-upon-Avon School, the Stratford College, and the Shakespeare Institute which is part of Birmingham University. There are also representatives from the Chevalier Bretvins and the Commanderie du Taste, the Court Leets of Alcester and Henley-in-Arden. There are also many charity representatives and the Friends of the Shakespeare Celebrations.

10.30AM: A wide variety of groups and organisations are represented. Leading the secondary columns are representatives from the Shakespeare Club, Friends of the RSC, Rotary and Accessible Stratford, as well as representatives from the trade delegation from Fuzhou, and civic heads from other towns in our district.

10.20: The Bard's birthday party is about to begin. Crowds start to gather in Waterside for the annual procession around the town centre. KES students have been greeted by cheering crowds.

The Head Boy of King Edward VI School, Pascal Vogiaridis and the head prefect team are joined by the Head Master, Bennet Carr. Carrying the school’s standard is always bestowed to the youngest pupil in the school and he is also the first to place his flowers on the grave. Yash Mohta has that honour this year.

The standards which depict the name of each group participating in the Parade are carried by students from Stratford Girls’ Grammar School and Stratford-upon-Avon School.

As the last of the KES contingent goes through, so follows the Primary School children. They process in the order of when their school was established.

10.20AM: The Band of the West Midlands Fire Service are entertaining the assembling crowds at the top of Bridge Street, ahead of the traditional procession.

10.15AM: Following the first parade dignitaries and guests will make their way - many via boat down the Avon - to the Birthday Luncheon which again takes place at The Crowne Plaza Hotel. Herald deputy editor Chris Smith will be among the guests, which also include actress Jane Lapotaire, this year's Pragnell Prize recipient. We will hear from Chris later.

10.10AM: The tried and tested elements of this year's Celebrations have been retained again this year, but with a fun new element being introduced in the form of the first Community Literary Carnival Pageant of walking tableaus who will all be depicting a work of literature. This will follow the main parade, which is now under way.

The winning tableau will receive a cheque for £500 provided by the Literary Carnival Pageant’s sole sponsor, Bell Court.

10AM: The sun is out - and compere Michael Collie introduces the morning's proceedings.

9.45AM: Welcome to the live coverage of this year’s Shakespeare Celebrations.

We'll be posting updates throughout the morning as Stratford celebrates its famous son, William Shakespeare.

Monday simultaneously marks the 454th birthday of the Bard of Avon and the 402nd anniversary of his death.

Shakespeare was 52 when he was laid to rest at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, leaving behind 154 sonnets and 39 tragedies, histories and comedies that continue to dominate the world's theatrical stage to this day.

Pick up next week’s Herald for our five-page special with photos and coverage from the celebrations weekend.